Writer | Jack Burden

A collection of article’s by RTB’s editor-in-chief.

“Drastically Better Wakes”: Pros Weigh In on the 2026 Ski Nautique May 28, 2025 “I think this will be a major improvement across the board in slalom,” said one independent reviewer after testing the new boat.

Banned, Broken, But Never Beaten: Winter Headlines Blockbuster Masters May 26, 2025 From milestone performances to long-awaited redemption, the 65th Masters was a showcase of resilience, risk, and razor-thin margins.

A New Ski Nautique Has Landed: End of an Era or Start of One? May 23, 2025 It’s a bold new flagship for the brand, and one that likely signals the quiet retirement of the beloved 200.

Erika Lang Reclaims Edge in World Record Duel with Neilly Ross May 19, 2025 On Sunday, at the Florida Inboards Open, Lang laid down an 11,450-point run—her best ever, and a new pending world record.

Masters Invites Finalized: So Why Are There Empty Spots? May 14, 2025 In some disciplines, simply paying the entry fee and showing up was enough to earn a Masters spot.

How Charlie Ross Became the Youngest Ever to Conquer 41-Off May 12, 2025 Slalom skiing's most exclusive club has a new name on its roster—and he’s just getting started.

This Mother’s Day, We Celebrate Water Skiing’s Unstoppable Moms May 11, 2025 From toppling outdated assumptions to commanding podiums, they’ve proven that athletic prime and parenting aren’t mutually exclusive.

Masters 2025: Here’s Everyone in the Final Field at Callaway Gardens May 11, 2025 Among the notable qualifiers are Freddy Krueger, who turned 50 earlier this month, and Freddie Winter, returning less than a year after suffering a broken femur.

At Swiss Pro, Winter’s Comeback Steals the Spotlight May 7, 2025 On Sunday afternoon Freddie Winter climbed back onto a professional podium for the first time since the crash that nearly ended his career.

Jen Craven’s The Skiers Reimagines Pro Water Skiing — Fictional Fame, Real Fun May 6, 2025 In a new novel, the world of professional slalom skiing gets the kind of glossy, tabloid-ready treatment usually reserved for tennis aces or Formula 1 stars.

Duplan-Fribourg Brothers Shine at First Masters Qualifier May 6, 2025 Tristan Duplan-Fribourg has returned to competitive water skiing in style after a life-threatening crash last season.

Masters Revises Qualification Criteria—A Step Forward, for Some May 2, 2025 The shift gives deserving pros more breathing room—and a clearer path to one of the sport’s most prestigious stages.